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We were the international Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault (JCASA); and were dedicated to ending sexual violence in Jewish communities globally. We did our best to operate as the make a wish foundation for Jewish survivors of sex crimes. In the past we offered a clearinghouse of information, resources, support and advocacy.

Friday, March 12, 2004

Case of Rami Buchnik

Case of Rami Buchnik

(AKA: Eli Buchnik)

Teacher Youth Instructor and Gym Coach

Jordan Valley Region, Israel

Charged with child pornography and acts of sodomy with children over and under the age of 14. The Tiberias police are looking into suspicions that teachers and other central figures in the Jordan Valley region knew about Buchnik's acts yet kept silent. Buchnik was employed as an educator, social counselor for high school students, and fitness instructor at the kibbutz in which he lived with his wife.

The indictment describes sodomy and indecent acts allegedly perpetrated on some 25 young boys, including 10 whom Buchnik is said to have maintained long-term relationships. Most of the encounters took place at Buchnik's home or in the boys' rooms, to which he had a key. Buchnik also allegedly documented some encounters on video.

The Tiberias Magistrate's Court yesterday lifted a gag order preventing publication of the name of a 42-year-old physical education teacher suspected of molesting and sodomizing several youths. Rami Buchnik, who was arrested on March 3, was remanded for an additional 15 days.

Buchnik, who lives in the Jordan Valley, was arrested after complaints that he had been molesting youths at several kibbutzim in the region. We was also charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Police believe that Buchnik, who is married and has two children, has been molesting children for the past 15 years. During a search of his home, officers found dozens of videotapes documenting the alleged assaults. Defense attorney Haim Bokobaza told the court yesterday that his client was cooperating fully with police, and had given investigators a statement. He added that the suspect claimed the acts were not committed against the youths' wishes.

The affair first came to light a month ago, with the arrest of Uzi Hakhmon, a soccer coach who was also charged with sexually molesting and sodomizing minors. A woman from the center of the country called police in Tiberias, and told them about an acquaintance of hers who had been abused while living in the same area. Police contacted the man, now in his early 20s, and they told him about his relationship, which he described as "close and sexual," with Buchnik. "At the time, I thought it was alright," he told officers, "but when I grew up O realized that the relationship was not alright, but shame prevented my from talking about it."

Northern district prosecution officials on Thursday filed an indictment at the Nazareth District Court against a 42-year-old man charged with sexually abusing 25 youths over a long period of time.

Rami Buchnik, a Kibbutz resident from the Jordan Valley region, allegedly exploited his status as a youth instructor in Kibbutzim in the area to perform the acts. Prosecution officials termed the indictment "very serious," and police were looking into the possibility that other teachers in the area knew about the incidents yet kept silent.

The indictment sheet relates a long list of indecent assaults and acts of sodomy. The relationships between Buchnik and some of the youths lasted a long time and included dozens of meetings, while with other youths, some of whom were under the age of 14, Buchnik had "chance meetings."

The large majority of the incidents occurred at Buchnik's home, but he also had sexual relations in apartments of youths to which he had a key, at the Kibbutz pool hall and at a secluded spot next to the tennis court. Buchnik documented some of the acts using stills and video cameras.

Buchnik began committing the acts after he married a member of the Kibbutz and became a youth instructor. He also served as a gym coach and a teacher in Kibbutzim in the area, according to the indictment sheet. "The youth's confidence in him was boundless, and he soon became a role model for them. This special status of the defendant and the admiration that the youths had for him formed a relationship of dependence and of authority," the indictment sheet claims.

The Tiberias police are looking into suspicions that teachers and other central figures in the Jordan Valley region knew about Buchnik's acts yet kept silent.

A Jordan Valley kibbutz resident was indicted yesterday by the Nazareth District Court for numerous acts of pedophilia committed against boys both at the kibbutz on which he lived and at other area kibbutzim.

Eli Buchnik, 42, is accused of sodomy and indecent assault against boys, some under the age of 14, during the period he was employed as an educator, social counselor for high school students, and fitness instructor at the kibbutz where he he moved to in 1988 after marrying one of its members. Buchnik's wife had served in a senior official capacity at the kibbutz.

"The seriousness of the charges stems from the extensive nature of the case - the accused managed to reach a large number of minors over a long period of time," said attorney Mirit Stern, head of the criminal department of the Northern District State Prosecutor's Office. Stern described the case as one involving sexual offenses committed by a man to whom his alleged victims looked up and on whom they depended. "I cannot give details of the acts, but they are very serious," Stern added.

Buchnik moved to the kibbutz in 1988, and began serving as an educator in 1990. In 2000 he was appointed a fitness instructor and became an authority figure for young people on the subject of physical training and nutrition. Over 14 years, Buchnik developed relationships with many teenagers at the kibbutz and at neighboring kibbutzim. "The young people trusted the accused completely. He had a special status, and anyone who wanted to improve his own social status would do so by getting close to the accused," the indictment states.

The indictment describes sodomy and indecent acts allegedly perpetrated on some 25 young boys, including 10 whom Buchnik is said to have maintained long-term relationships. Most of the encounters took place at Buchnik's home or in the boys' rooms, to which he had a key. Buchnik also allegedly documented some encounters on video.

The indictment also describes one case where a boy ended his relationship with Buchnik after rumors about his illicit behavior began to surface. Buchnik allegedly convinced the boy to resume visiting his house for fear that the relationship's abrupt ending would signal a warning to kibbutz residents. The boy allegedly resumed his visits, which included viewing pornographic movies and pictures.

Tiberias police, headed by Chief Superintendent Avi Algarisi, uncovered the case and is investigating whether Jordan Valley officials and educators were aware of Buchnik's alleged acts but covered them up. "If we discover that individuals required by law to report such acts were negligent in doing so, we will prosecute them to the full extent of the law," Stern said.

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Survivors ARE Heroes!

The Awareness Center believes ALL survivors of sex crimes should be given yellow ribbons to wear proudly.

Survivors of sexual violence (as adults and/or as a child) are just as deserving of a yellow ribbon as the men and women of our armed forces, who have been held captive as hostages or prisoners of war.

Survivors of sexual violence have been forced to learn how to survive, being held captive not by foreigners, but mostly by their own family members, teachers, camp counselors, coaches babysitters, rabbis, cantors or other trusted authority figures.

For these reasons ALL survivors of sexual violence should be seen as heroes!